Rapid transit apparatus



(No Model.)

' 4 sheets-sheen 1. J. S. PARKE. RAPID TRANSIT APPARATUS.

Patented Deo. 30, 1890.

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ATTORNEY (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. S. PARKE.

RAPID TRANSIT APPARATUS.

'Radaellted Deo. 30,1890.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented Deo. 30

J. S. PARKE. RAPID TRANSIT APPARATUS ATTORNEY (No Model.)

(No Model.)

I. S. PARKE.

RAPID TRANSIT APPARATUS.

No. 443,972. Patented Deo. 30, 1890.

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JOI-IN S. PARKE, OF UNITED STATES ARMY.

RAPID-TRANSIT APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,972, dated December30, 1890.

Application filed July S, 1890. Serial No. 357,696. (No model..x

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Beit known l(hat I, JOHN S. PARKE, United Stat-es Army, stationed atFort Sidney, in the State of Nebraska, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Rapid-Transit Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is an improved rapid-transit apparatus, and has for anobject to provide a novel construction enabling the running of`carriages or trains at great speed. I propose to attain great speed byutilizing the eXplosive force of gnnpowder or some analogous substancewhich is capable of sudden conversion into an expansive gas.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and novelcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one method of carryingout the invention, similar letters refer to similar parts throughout.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of a portion of the track. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of thetrack. Fig. a is a longitudinal section of a part of the track. Fig. 5is a detail view of one of the rack-plates. Fig. 6 is a longitudinalsection of the locomotive. Figs. 7, S, and 9 are detail views of partsthereof. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of the passenger or freightcar. Fig. 1l is a rear end View thereof. Figs. l2 and 13 arecross-sections on respectively lines 12 and 13 of Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is aside view of a part of the track, locomotive, and connecting-frame. Fig.l5 is a cross-section of the connecting-frame, and Fig. 16 is a detailview of the piston.

My improved apparatus includes the construction of the track with aratchet or rack, the locomotive or power-car to run on said track andhaving a piston engaging the rack of the said track and the cannon-likedevice for operating said piston, the car for freight or passengers, andthe frame connecting said car with the locomotive.

The track A is formed, as shown most clearly in the detail views, withthe cross-ties B, the niain rails C, the side stringers C', supportingsaid rails C, the central beam or Stringer D, and the intermediatestringers E, arranged on opposite sidesvof the beam D.

The beams C', D, and E are supported upon and anchored to the ties B,and said beams are also connected and braced laterally by tie-rods F,extended through them and secured at the outer sides of stringere C',preferably by nuts, as shown, collars or spacingsleevcs f beingsupported on said ltie-rods between the adjacent beams to hold thelatter properly apart. I also connect the beams E D E near their lowersides by tie-rods F ,collars f being arranged on the rods between thesaid beams.

The beam D is channeled or otherwise suitably formed at its upper sideto receive the rack G, which is preferably formed of similar steel orother suitable plates I-I, and indiarubber or other suitablecushioning-plates I, arranged at the lower ends of the plates Il, asshown, so as to cushion the said plates against the stroke of thedriving piston-rod presently described. About midway between their endsthe plates II are provided with side iianges h, which bear, in theuppermost posisition of the said plates, under plates J, which aresecured upon strin gers E and lap over the beam D. These plates .l alsoform rails for the supportingwheels of the driving pistonrod.

The rails C are formed to receive the runner portions of the locomotive,car or cars, and connecting-frame, and may be fiangethas shown at theright in Fig. 3, or may be of the ordinary form shown at the left ofsaid Fig.

3, so that in applying the improvements 'to.

ordinary railroads it will only be necessary to put in the centralbeams.

To offer less resist-ance to the air the carriages, in which genericterm the cars and so-called locomotive may be included, are given theshape shown,known as the cylindro-conoidal, and such carriages haverunners 39 to slide on rails C.

The locomotive K is formed with suitable framing and casing and isprovided with the cannons or guns l-esay six in number-which are fixedto plates 2 3, supported to revolve on or with the axial shaft 4, heldby the dia- IOO phragm or division-plates 5 and 6, the cannons beingarranged to incline downward toward their muzzle ends.

At their butt-ends or breeehes the cannons are held closely against asteel plate 7, and a rod or beam 8 bears between the front side of plate'7 and the framing. This rod 8 is arranged in prolongation of the lineof tire through the cannon adjusted to firing position-that is, thelowest position to which the cannons are successively moved as the groupof cannons is turned. An opening 9 is formed in plate 7 near its top,such opening serving to admit the cartridge, of which a supply is keptin a trough 10, arranged in line, or approximately so, with the opening9, so that the cartridges may be conveniently fed into the cannons orbarrelsas they are successively presented to the opening 9. Y

By using bags or some other combustible material for inelosing theexplosive unloading will not be necessary, as it would be if metalcartridges were used; but even if metal cartridges were necessary ordesirable, any simple convenient retracting mechanism may be employed.

The operator may sit in a chair 11, snpported to slide back and forth onupper and lower rods 12 and 13. The plate 3 has sockets 14 to receive astop-pin 15, which stops the group of cannons or barrels in operation,and is released by connection with the seat 11. A grooved or notched cap1G is adapted to fit on the barrels, and is supported to drop down onthe uppermost cannon and stop or steady the same in position to hold theplate 3 in position for its socket 14 to receive pin 15, sockets 14Ebeing provided one for each barrel. I support this cap 16 by an arm orbar extended from it to and connected with the side of thelocomotive-frame, and I operate the cap by means of a cord 17, whichextends over a pulley 1S, and is connected with the operators chair, sothat the recoil of the operators chair after a shot is fired willrelease the cap 16 and pin 15, when the bunch of guns will be turnedsufliciently to bring the next pair thereof into position for firing andloading. After a shot is fired the pin 15 lwill be withdrawn and the cap1G raised by the movement of the operators chair, and the movement ofthe chair will also turn the group of guns one space by means of theratchet-and-pawl mechanism, as shown, which mechanism may obviously bevaried as desired.

It will also be understood that when desired, instead of using automaticmechanism for releasing and turning the bunch of guns, such guns may bereleased, turned, and tired by hand without departing from some of thebroad principles of the invention.

After the guns have been moved the one space the chair, actuated bysprings 2i and 25, will be returned to its forinerposition, and the cap16 and rod 15 `will return to their places and hold the bunch of guns totheir places. The operator will eonsequentlyonly need to keep a supplyof cartridges in the trough 10, they feeding by gravity automaticallyinto the barrels. The operating drivepiston K is arranged at its uppercylindrical end to move into and be fired out of the barrels or cannonsand at its lower end to engage the rack G. After each shot or time thepiston is tired I recover it and push it back into the next barrel bymeans of coilsprings 1S of sufficient elasticity to effect such endafter the propelling power of the piston has been exhausted. 'l'hesesprings will be so adjusted as to hold the piston firmly against thecharge of powder, but not of sueient strength to resist the force of theexplosion to any greater extent than is necessary to recover the piston.The piston is guided by means of eyes 19 at its sides, which iit on rods20, which rods also support the springs 18. Near its lower end thepiston is provided with wheels 2l, the axle 22 of which is movable alongthe piston,pref erably by arranging it to move in a groove or slot 23 inthe piston, the piston moving back from the wheels when iired; but afterthe propelling-power of the piston has been exhausted it will ride upon4 the wheels, the axle of which will pass back in groove 23, so thatthe piston as it is dragged forward will be held above and out ofengagement with the rack. The wheels 2l run upon the trackplates J, asreferred to hereinbefore. The cartridges may be discharged by the pistoncoming back against them, either by concussion or through the aid ofelectricity or other suitable means, and I do not desire to be limitedto any particular tiring mechanism. The connecting-frame L, whichextends between the locomotive and the car, will be built as light aspossible, consistent with strength, of steel or iron base-bars 26, topbars 27, and uprights 28, all of T shape in cross-section, and braced bydiagonal rods 29, as shown, the parts being` bolted or riveted together,as desired.

The car M is suitably connected with the connecting-frame, and consistsof the easing 30, the guide-rods 31 therein, and thepassenger-compartmcut 32, supported to slide back and forth on rods 31,and cushioned in both its backward and forward movements by coiled wireand rubber springs and 34. XVit-hin the casing 30 I secure front andrear frames 35 and 36, which support the rods 31. The casing 30 is shownas open at its rear end, the passenger-compartment being provided at itsrear end with an entrance-door 37.

While the single piston, as shown, may be preferred, it is obvious thatif desired separate pistons maybe red from each of the cannons orbarrels and be permitted to fall out after each discharge, to bereplaced by others.

I expect in practice to use charges of varying size and power. At first,to obtain the motion'gradually, small charges of a slowburnmgcomposition will be used. As speed IIO is developed larger charges ofmore rapidlyburning composition will be used, and by frequent successiveexplosions the motion will be maintained.

Some comparatively new explosives, which produce practically neithersmoke nor noise on exploding maybe employed in the operation of theinvention, instead of gunpowder, dynamite, and similar commonexplosives.

It will be understood that either or both the locomotive and the car maybe made of paper, papier-mache, or wood, as well as or instead of ironor other metal.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Arapid-transit apparatus substantially as described, comprising the trackhaving a rack and the locomotive having a gun or cannon arranged to firea piston against said rack, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus substantially as described, the locomotive providedwith a revolving group of cannons or barrels and with the movablespring-actuated operators seat arranged to be operated by the recoil andhaving mechanism for locking, releasing, and turning said group ofcannons arranged to be operated by the movement of the operators seat,all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In an apparat-us substantially as described, the carriages made incylindro-conoidal shape, substantially as set forth.

4. In a transit apparatus substantially as described, the improvedrailway-track having a rack formed of a numberof plates arranged at anincline and lapping one upon the other, substantially as set forth.

5. In a transit apparatus substantially as described, an improvedrailway-track having a rack formed of a number of plates arranged at anincline lapping one upon the other and provided with cushioning-platesarranged below the said rack-plates, all substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

(5. 4In a transit apparatus, the combination of the rack-plates H,having between their ends flanges h, the cushions below said plates H,the Stringer-beams and plates J, lapping above and arranged to formstops for engagement by anges h to limit the upward movement of therack-plates H, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a transit `apparatus, the improved track consisting of the ties B,the side stringers C', having rails C, the center stringer D, supportingthe rack-plates ll and cushionplates I, the plates H being provided withHanges 71, theA stringers E, the plates J, ar-

ranged to lap above the flanges h, and the connecting-bolts F and F',all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. In a transit apparatus, the combination of the locomotive and car,made cylindro-conoidal in shape, the connecting-frame, the cannon or gunsupported by the locomotive and arranged to incline downward toward itsrear or muzzle end, and a rack in the track below the gun, arranged forengagement by a piston fired from the said gun, all substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

9. The combination, in an apparatus, substantially as described, of thetrack having a rack consisting` of plates and cushions beneath the same,the locomotive on said track and provided with a cannon or gun, and apiston arranged to be fired by said gun or cannon against the rack,substantially as set forth.

l0. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination, in alocomotive, of the casing, the diaphragm-plates 5 and 6, the plates 2and 3, supportin g the cannons or guns, the breech-plate 7, having anopening for the feeding of the cartridges to the barrel, thecartridge-trough, and mechanism by which the group of cannons may beturned to bring the several cannons successively to tiring position, andmeans for locking them in said position, all substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

1l. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination of thelocomotivecasing, the group of cannons supported to turn therein, theguide-rods 12 and 13, the operators seat supported to slide on saidrods, the springs 2t and 25 for actuating said seat, the devices bywhich to turn the cannon and to lock the same in position, andconnections between the said devices and the operators chair, wherebythe movement of the latter may operate such devices, substantially asset forth.

12. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination of thelocomotivecasing, the group of cannons supported to revolve in saidcasing, whereby they may be presented successively to firing position, abreech-plate 7, and a brace or rod 8 on the opposite side of saidbreech-plate from the cannon and arranged inA prolongation of the lineof bore of the cannon in firing position, all substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

JOHNmS. PARKE. lVitnesses:

EDWARD M. MANcoURT, J. G. BUSH.

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